What goes around

We posted this about the water rising around Janes's Carousel, just after Hurricane Sandy hit. Things seemed bleak, to say the least. However, just as we had hoped, the horses are spinning again. 

Check out this letter from Jane Walentas, which gives an update and confirms that there is still a place on the Hudson river waterfront where children (of all ages) can whirl, where they wave at someone every time around, and people wave back.

Love that. 

Saving the day...

This floor had seen better days. So we did what we could to rescue it. 

The project was a basement floor in Brooklyn, NY. It was uneven and rough, as you can see.

Our challenge was to get the floor level and smooth, and of course it had to look nice. We brought in our crew, floor polishing machines, and applied some real muscle.

 We like the result, as did our client. 

If you have a floor that looks something like those before pictures and you're wondering if it can be saved, give us a call because chances are, it can be. We're the concrete superhero(s) your looking for. 

Gather

Be hopeful. 

Be thankful. 

Be together. 

In the Works...Concrete Tile

These photos show the installation of 36"x 36" GRS concrete tile. 

It's going into a lobby on West 43rd Street, a residential building. 

The contractor is Legacy Builders. 

Concrete tile is typically slightly thicker than other materials. 

These are 3/4" thick.  

We realize they don't look that fancy when they're being produced, or on a job site for that matter. 

But it's a nice clean, smooth surface, and in the end...

it looks real cool. 

For specifications on GRS tile go here. 

Dear Mother Nature...

We don't think this is funny.

Someone shared this photo with us yesterday of the tide rising at Jane's Carousel at Brooklyn Bridge Park, one of our most memorable projects.  

At some point the water will recede and there will laughter and balloons here again.

Until then, hang in there.

In the works...Novartis

We are in the process of making some concrete capping for an exterior wall at the Novartis Visitor Center in New Jersey. 

These photos show our crew making templates (taking measurements). The templates will go back to our manufacturing facility and will be used to make precast capping pieces that will be installed onsite. 

The pieces of wooden strips that you see in these photos will become white sparkling concrete. 

Credits...

Architect- Weiss/Manfredi

 General Contractor- Sordoni

  Stone contractor -Scrofani Contracting

(and let's not forget)

Templater for Get Real Surfaces- Ted

In the works...Curved stairs

The crazy formwork has been removed and things are looking good on our stair project. It must feel so good to be rid of all of that bracing. 

We've also poured and cut the concrete flooring that meets the stairs. Amazing how you can start out with a floor full of gravel and then suddenly, it starts to look less like a playground and more like the swanky apartment that it is. 

Things are progressing nicely!

Stay tuned...

Local Love - Group Hug

As a small business in the Hudson Valley, we value those that help us do what we do. We believe that the local businesses that supply us with materials, services and tools are doing much to support the economy, which is important to all of us.

We have used some of these vendors since our beginning and we think it's important to acknowledge them for what they do individually, as well as how we all work together to support each other, which is equally relevant. 

Props to these men and women. We appreciate you and are happy to be associated with you...

Williams Lumber

Davies Hardware

Sarjo

Albert Kemperle

HG Page

Foreign Car Specialists

Valley Courier

Lightning Express

Done and Done...Union Square Loft

This project in Manhattan is an excellent example of how concrete can be mixed with other materials and unique elements to create an inviting space. 

Those elements include reclaimed teak cabinets, a vintage chalkboard backsplash, blackened steel panels, and a repurposed industrial dust collector (used as an exhaust hood).

The 1.5" thick, precast countertop has an eased edge and a simple drainboard (fancy formwork on a small scale).

The bathroom has precast countertops as well as a bath surround.

A complete list of resources and a nice write up on this project can be found in Architectural Record. 

Formwork is our forte...

This project, a private residence in Manhattan, boasts a curved stair that leads up to the living area. 

These photos show the extensive formwork that was built to create the stairs. 

Notice the white bags of material in the photo below. They were bagged by hand especially for this project, which is clearly unique (a nice way of saying labor intensive).

 You may be wondering things like-

How long does that take to build?

How many people work on a project like this?

How does one keep from tripping over the formwork?

Rest assured. We've spent years figuring out how to make things like this happen. It's complicated and messy and exhausting. We love it.

In the works...Hobbit

These fun and functional tables were designed by Julie Hillman Design. 

Cute right? One is slightly larger than the other.

They're called Hobbit, as in small and stout, like those mythical creatures.

Apparently, Hobbits are shy, but are nevertheless capable of great courage and amazing feats under the proper circumstances. 

Given their shape and name, we can't help but think that at some point they may take flight or roll away. We'll keep you posted. 

In the Works...giant black countertops

Sometimes we make something in our shop that takes just as much effort to install as it does to make. 

This kitchen will have an awful lot of counter space.

The tops have a four inch edge that will appear chiseled, making them a little more interesting than the typical edge. 

How will we do it? 

Styrofoam, which may seem like like cheating to some, but to us it's creative and smart. 

Check back and we'll have some nice shots of them in the finishing department and we'll all get to see just how well the styrofoam worked. 

This makes us smile...

This is a quick video (remember this one?) of one of our awesome employees polishing a concrete floor, something he does all the time. We just never really knew how much fun he had while doing it...

or how hard it is to control one of those machines. Yikes!

This kind of fun is another example of why our crews rock and why Get Real makes such a great product. We love what we do and that works to everyone's advantage. 

In the works...J.C. Penney

J.C. Penney, the department store, who has recently been in the news, 

(they seem to be going through some changes) is one of our current projects. 

This is what's below the current flooring in their retail stores.

This is what that old subfloor looks like when you love what's underneath and treat it nicely. 

If the literal foundation of the retail stores can undergo this kind of transformation- the kind that happens when you strip everything else away, discover what's underneath, and polish it till it shines, then maybe a little shake up is ultimately a good thing. 

We're feeling optimistic today (and we kind of have a thing for diamond polished concrete). 

Bucking the Trend

Trends ideas, an online and print resource for current architectural and design trends (surprise), has a nice write up about a project that we played a role in. The homeowner, Wendy Evans Joseph of Cooper Joseph Studio, is also the architect and designer behind this sleek and functional kitchen. 

If you guessed that we poured the concrete floors you would be right. 

Joseph opted to have the concrete stained and burnished (not polished as it states in the article), to achieve a more textured finish. 

Rather than skimming the top layer off of the floor with our polishing machine, burnishing leaves the simple beauty of the hand troweled finish intact. It's slightly more authentic and real. 

Joseph may have started a new trend and we love that she has highlighted an interesting option in concrete flooring. 

To read the write up and for the full list of credits go here. 

Trending

We fell in love with these concrete "skins" by Tactility Factory not too long ago.  Seems like we may be late to the party because Piet Boon has partnered with NLXL to create a line of concrete wallpaper, which debuted at this years ICFF.

While casting precast panels or using troweled concrete as a finish is pretty great, there is something about being able to create a unique space without the cost and labor involved in the real thing. 

With this product, if you grow tired of your concrete covered walls (honestly, we don't see how that could happen) you can remove them without much fuss, which is also great.

Oh ICFF, you bring out the best in all of us. 

In the works...Bicycle Roots

We've embedded nuts and bolts, shells, glass, and more recently, metal shavings into concrete. 

These tops have bicycle parts in them, which will be exposed in the finishing process. We're casting these for a bike shop in Brooklyn, NY. 

Bicycle Roots, which is opening a showroom and repair shop on Fulton Street very soon (read about them here), has chosen to cast bike parts into their new concrete countertops. 

Great big thumbs up from us. 

Where credit is due.

This weekend, New York Times Magazine featured the Laakkonen / Rosen country house in East Hampton, NY. The home is made to look like two original barns that have been connected by walkways to a more contemporary barn.  

Surprisingly, the article does not mention the architects who no doubt played a huge role in this project. Nor does it mention who poured and polished the concrete floors that you see throughout the home. 

So we thought we would.  

The architects on the project were Tim Furzer & Nandini Bagchee.

Get Real Surfaces poured and polished the concrete floors. 

There. We feel better now. 

Local ♥...

Our buddies over at Hudson Beach Glass are hosting an awesome event which kicks off this Friday and runs through the weekend. 

Beacon Open Studios is a city wide art exhibition that welcomes the public into local art studios to see where and how it all happens. The self guided tour begins at Hudson Beach Glass, where you can pickup a map. In addition, mobile galleries known as Truck City will be outside Spire Studios from Noon to 6pm on Sat. & Sun. 

This is a unique way to experience great art, great food, and a great city, all while supporting local artists. By the way, it's free. 

Go here for a list of events, hours, and a map. 

Done and Done...Anthropologie

We're combining a "Done and Done" with an "In the Works" post today...

We've made tables and cash wraps for Anthropologie internationally. 

Clearly, we're not the only ones that think that concrete is a perfect canvas for the unique aesthetic and style that you find at Anthropologie.

The pieces below will become more cash wraps.

The next time you step up to the counter and buy your Rosebud Salve, put your hands down onto the smooth concrete surface. Now you know where that interesting material came from.